Göreme, is a historical town in Cappadocia, Turkey. Famous for its unique rock formations and daily hot air balloon flights during sunrise.
Göreme National Park is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to it’s natural unique landscape, rich history and culture that needs to be protected from damage and unsustainable development.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Goreme National Park.
Göreme National Park
1. Stay in a Cave Suite
There’s no better way to have a complete unique experience in Cappadocia than staying in a cave hotel/suite. It gives you a feeling of how people are living in this region in cave dwellings for centuries.
I stayed in Sultan Cave Suites during my 3 days stay in Göreme and the place is simply fantastic! Staying in a cave suite gives a cave living experience in modern-day luxury. The rooms were built over the ancient cave dwellings, all the original cave walls have been preserved and the interior design matches the structure. The view from its roof deck is beautiful where you can catch the sunrise, a popular spot for photography and Instagram.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Cappadocia.
Double Room in Sultan Cave Suites
Sunrise in Cappadocia with Hundreds of Hotair Balloons
2. Take a Balloon Flight
The first balloon flew in the skies of the Cappadocia 20 years ago. Now, over a hundred balloons are flying daily (subject to weather condition) early in the morning as the sun rises. This is the highlight of any trip to Cappadocia. There’s no better way to see the mesmerizing view of Cappadocia’s unique and beautiful landscape than a balloon flight.
Once you booked your flight, the company will arrange everything for you on the morning of your flight. You will be picked up early at dawn from your hotel and you’ll have breakfast at the assembly area where you will be given the name of the captain of your flight. After short breakfast, they will take you to the departure point. There’s a short briefing and safety measures so pay attention. Our flight with Butterfly Balloons took an hour and 15 minutes, landing was very smooth. The journey ends with a glass of champagne, a toss of celebration for the successful flight.
Hotair Balloons.
Balloon Ride
3. Have a Pottery Kebab
Kebab is among the famous turkish dishes but only in Cappadocia you’ll get to taste a kebab with a twist. Testi Kebab or Pottery Kebab is similar to a stew, with tomatoes, vegetables, chillies and meat (lamb, beef or chicken) slowly cooked in a pot. When it’s served, the seal needs to broken and once cracked with a hammer the hot colorful broth will flow out of the pot on your plate and the top of the part of the pot will be removed. Enjoy while it’s hot!
Pottery Kebab
4. Visit the Open Air Museum
Open air museum is about 15 minutes walk from the town center of Göreme. This place is commonly the first stop on anyone’s itinerary in Cappadocia. It consists of 7 churches and cave dwellings which are residence of Byzantine Christians refugees centuries back. Among these churches, Karanlık Kilise or the Dark Church is the best preserved. The mosaics inside describing scenes from the new testament are fine examples of centuries old Byzantine art.
Open Air Museum
5. See the Fairy Chimneys
These remarkable rock formations is what makes most of Cappadocia’s unique landscape. Caused by nature’s own destructive force such as volcanic eruptions, strong winds and erosion, these magical landscape is bringing in thousands of tourists around the world to Cappadocia.
Fairy Chimneys
6. Devrent (Imagination) Valley
These valley has several unique rock formations that look like sculptures made by nature. Several of the formations look like different animals. Below in the picture are formations that look like a camel and snail.
Imagination Valley.
7. Catch the Sunset
The unique landscape in Göreme turns vibrant as the sun sets and darkness cover the skies. It’s amazing to see the town from the sunset spot as the darkness slowly covers the sky, the lights from the hotels, streets and caves are illuminating the whole town.
Göreme at night
About the Writer
Jaypee Licudan is a Filipino Expat based in Singapore. He’s a traveller and writer for Two Monkeys Travel Group – Community Travel Blog and has been to over 30 countries across 4 continents. He’s major long term goal is to go back to the Philippines for a long time travel to discover the hidden gems of his home country. Follow his personal blog: The Rustic Nomad
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Twitter: @itherusticnomad
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Comments 54
I would love to take a ballon flight, that would be awesome
You will love it, Anosa! Any plan for a visit and try these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey?
Your pictures are so beautiful. I want a ballon ride!
Thank you! Everyone wants it and it justifies why it should be on this list of 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey. 😉
WOW….ITS VERY NICE
great photography and have been to Turkey many times, but not here, wish I had, as it looks like a fantastic trip.
the potted kebab looked like it was yummy, turkish food is quite yummy 🙂
When are you coming back to Turkey? You must try these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia whenever it is.
omg i want to visit here. the national park and the hot air balloons are what i want to do
Great post. I love the idea of a balloon ride and watching sunset
We stayed in a cave suit when we were in Santorini, so I would love to stay in one again.
How was it Dannii? Hope you can experience it too in Turkey. If you are there, try the rest from these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia as well.
Oh wow, I’d want to go on a balloon flight for sure. I’d love to see some of those landscapes for myself.
That would be awesome, Liz! Sure you can try these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey soon.
really its very nice and am I misss them so sad…
Turkey always looks like it has some spectacular places to visit – all the scenery! x
Turkey is a beautiful country, Sarah! Having these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia is only a part of what you can do.
Oh my god the cave place looks amazing, and the whole place looks so pretty x
One of the most stunning places on earth, how awesome would it be to stay in the cave hotel? How fun!
Hi Ana! These 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey speak how fun it was.
I didn’t realise you could stay in a cave suite that is different isn’t it!
Oh wow, I now want to stay in a cave hotel, it looks and sounds just absolutely amazing, so unique and definitely a talking point x
Yes, Rachel. One of the highlights when you are in Turkey. Check all these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia whenever you are in the country.
I have only been to Turkey once, and that was a day trip when we were staying in Kos and got a boat over, we obviously didn’t get to see much apart from the shopping. It is somewhere we would like to go to one day x
Time to go back and try these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey! 🙂
I love the sound of Imagination Valley. Those formations do look like a snail and a camel. Your photos are amazing too.
Thank you, Tori! So much to explore and we tried to compile it here on 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey.
This looks and sounds so much fun! I love it! I want to go in a hot air balloon!
You must, Ana! Looking forward to the time you can try these 7 Awesome Things to do in Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey